DISClaimer Single Reviews: Sister Sadie Brings ‘Tart Lyric & Swaying Fiddling’

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Sister Sadie

The country-music scene is thoughtful and contemplative today, with a solid lineup of slower fare. 

Bucking the ballad trend in this edition of DISClaimer is the all-female band Sister Sadie. Its new music sounds like a blend of bluegrass and ‘90s country, and the fusion works like gangbusters. Check out our rollicking Disc of the Day winner, “Do What You Want.”

Taking home this week’s DISCovery Award is Zach John King.

THE STEELDRIVERS / “Booze and Cigarettes”
Writers: Tammy Rogers King/Verlon Thompson; Producer: The Steeldrivers; Label: Sun Records
– The SteelDrivers dropped their new Outrun album last week, and this single from it is a bluesy bluegrass treat. The lonely guy in the bar isn’t a regular…. yet. He’s just drinking and smoking by himself, because that’s what he deserves. The brisk tempo and hearty vocals sound just fine. The band is celebrating its 20th anniversary and dedicates the new set to late, lamented group mainstay, Mike Henderson.

JOSH TURNER / “Unsung Hero”
Writers: Josh Turner; Producer: Kenny Greenberg; Label: MCA Nashville
– Turner wrote this about his grandfather, one of the “greatest generation” men who nobly fought in World War II. The rolling tempo, the swirling minor-key instrumental track and the singer’s resonant baritone give it oomph and drama.

HUDSON WESTBROOK & MIRANDA LAMBERT / “House Again”
Writers: Dan Alley/Hudson Westbrook/Neil Medley; Producers: Lukas Scott, Ryan Youmans; Label: River House Artists/Warner Music Nashville
– It’s a slow waltz with the singers swapping verses about the dissolution of a relationship and the empty house that used to be a home. The close-harmony vocal passages are twin-like. Perfectly executed.

RODNEY CROWELL & ASHLEY McBRYDE / “Taking Flight”
Writers: Ashley McBryde/Rodney Crowell; Producer: Tyler Bryant; Label: New West Records
– A wanderer’s saga, complete with missteps, heartbreak and abandonment. The detail in the lyric is super engaging. Crowell and McBryde both sound resigned and world weary as the tale slowly unfolds. Rodney Crowell plays next Wednesday (June 4) at Cheekwood in its Under the Stars concert series. Showtime is 7 p.m. Be there.

JOHN MORGAN / “Kid Myself”
Writers: John Morgan/Jordan Schmidt/Tyler Hubbard; Producer: Brent Anderson; Label: Broken Bow Records
– He fell into a relationship when he was too young to know the ropes. Now he regrets how it all went down, because he misses her. Sincere sounding. Recommended.

LAINEY WILSON / “Somewhere Over Laredo”
Writers: Andy Albert/Dallas Wilson/Edgar Yipsel Harburg/Harold Arlen/Lainey Wilson/Trannie Anderson; Producer: Jay Joyce; Label: Broken Bow Records
– The song is okay, but her expressive, beautifully shaded and perfectly phrased vocal performance of it is topflight. The production frames the performance with exquisite, understated elegance.

ZACH JOHN KING / “Lose You”
Writers: Alex Hope/Sasha Alex Sloan/Zach John King; Producer: Ryan Wilson; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Strummy, energetic and jaunty. Devotion, sung with verve and addictive hooks. I’m in.

DUSTIN LYNCH / “Easy To Love”
Writers: Ben Johnson/Dustin Lynch/Hunter Phelps/Jon Hall/Zach Crowell; Producer: none listed; Label: BBR Music Group/Broken Bow Records
– An easy-going track accompanies a ditty about how tough it is for him to be in a relationship.

SISTER SADIE / “Do What You Want”
Writers: Dani Flowers/Erin Enderlin/Sharon Richardson; Producer: Deanie Richardson; Label: Mountain Home Music Company
– The much honored and applauded all-female bluegrass sextet returns with a totally cool, waltz-time outing of feisty, independent-female sass. A delightful listen, from the tart lyric to the swaying fiddling, from the glorious harmonies to the rowdy-gang finale. The schoolhouse video is a blast. The tune is drawn from the band’s All Will Be Well album, which drops on June 27. Can’t wait.

SHERYL CROW / “I Know”
Writer: Sheryl Crow; Producer: Sheryl Crow; Label: The Valory Music Co.
– This is Mental Health Awareness Month. In recognition, the new Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee offers this poignant, soothing song that addresses her struggles with depression. The gentle, acoustic-based production surrounds her flawless soprano vocal with a lovely, wafting breeze of sound. We are so blessed to have this nine-time Grammy winner in our community.

JON BELLION & LUKE COMBS / “Why”
Writers: Aaron Dessner/Amy Allen/Blake Slatkin/Jonathan Bellion; Producers: Aaron Dessner, Blake Slatkin, Jon Bellion, Pete Nappi; Label: JB
– Pop singer and top producer Bellion enlisted country powerhouse Combs to join him on this powerful meditation about the fears and joys of fatherhood. The mighty Luke does not let him down, and the two dads communicate evocatively on the ballad. Thoroughly compelling listening.

GAVIN ADCOCK / “Never Call Again”
Writers: Colton Venner/Gavin Adcock/Jack Rauton/Joybeth Taylor; Producer: Jay Rodgers; Label: Thrivin Here Records/Warner Music Nashville
– Plaintive and aching. Singing at the top of his range, he burns with heartache.

REBECCA LYNN HOWARD / “Strong”
Writers: Elisha Hoffman/Jennifer Fiedler/Rebecca Lynn Howard/Trey Smith; Producer: Elisha Hoffman; Label: Pump House Records
– ‘Keep on keepin’ on,’ sings Howard on this empowering, inspiring ballad. And does she sing. This lady remains one of our most potent country vocalists, and she shows in her comeback music that she has lost none of her fire. I was a fan when she emerged on the scene as a teenager in 1999, and I’m still a fan today. The new album, I’m Not Who You Think I Am, dropped earlier this month.

Robert K Oermann
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